Announcement! I am currently raising funds to participate in a holistic medicine delegation to the island of Ometepe, Nicaragua, a medically under-served area where the need for health care is great. As a delegation participant, I will be observing and working in a clinic alongside locally-based naturopathic physicians with Natural Doctors International who have long-term relationships in the community. This clinic embodies an amazing model for community-based health care that is culturally fluent, in it for the long haul, and inclusive of local knowledge and native medicinal herbs.

Natural Doctors International (NDI) runs this primary care natural medicine clinic, working collaboratively with Nicaraguan doctors, nurses and other staff of the island’s public hospital and other health clinics. Every day the clinic sees a broad range of acute and chronic health issues. The island has a huge need for additional medical care, and this international delegation will help to address this need by supporting the clinic’s programs and increasing its capacity.

I’m also excited to participate in the delegation because being a part of this amazing team of herbalists will be a learning experience unlike any other. I’ll work with some of my favorite herbal teachers and will see a broad range of conditions during my time in Nicaragua; this experience will undoubtedly inform my own clinical practice for years to come. While the NDI clinic is focused on the community, conditions and medicinal plants of Ometepe, their approach to health care is one that is quite inspiring and instructional for our own community health work here in Portland. I’m excited to learn what I can from their model, and help facilitate some discussions when I get back about how we might apply these models at home.

More info on the delegation can be found on the indiegogo fundraising page. Please support it if you can! Tell your friends! Spread the word! I’m offering some herbal treats to those who donate; more details of the perks for giving are here. Giving even a small amount makes a huge difference.

And stay tuned for info on our community report-back! I will be collaborating with some other delegation participants and the Portland Central America Solidarity Committee on a free public event following the delegation, likely sometime in early April.